Cody Wellema's cherished establishment, the Wellema Hat Company, fell victim to the devastating California wildfires. Located on Mariposa Street in Altadena, the hat shop met its demise in the Eaton Fire, a blaze that consumed over 46,000 acres and left a trail of destruction that included more than 11,000 homes and businesses. For Wellema, this loss extends beyond the physical; it threatens his livelihood and a community hub that he painstakingly built over nearly a decade.
The Eaton Fire has left Cody Wellema grappling with the loss of not only his business but also the irreplaceable tools and equipment essential for his craft. The hat-making process, which could take up to 10 hours per hat, involves 50 intricate steps and requires rare American felt, old wooden blocks, and vintage ribbon. These tools, many of which are now reduced to ash, are not easily replaced, casting uncertainty on the future of Wellema's business.
"Ninety-nine percent of what was in the shop is ash," – Shelby Wellema
Wellema relocated his hat shop from Santa Barbara to Altadena about nine years ago. It was more than just a business; it was an extension of himself—a labor of love where his personality and craftsmanship shone through. The shop served as a community hub where locals would drop by to chat, admire the hats, and soak in the ambiance created by Wellema's dedication to his craft.
The loss of Wellema Hat Company is a significant economic and cultural blow to Altadena. The shop's closure impacts not only Cody and his family but also ripples through the local economy. Suppliers who provided materials to Wellema may face declining business due to the reduced demand for hat-making supplies.
"As the hat business has kind of seen a general decline, these suppliers are also seeing a general decline, and as fewer crafts people buy from them, that just puts their business at risk," – Derek Guy
"It just (creates) a general decline in the industry for that web of production." – Derek Guy
The destruction goes beyond the shop itself; it extends to the community surrounding it. The fire left many without a gathering place, severing the social fabric that Wellema's shop helped weave. John Gasper highlights how such losses can cascade through networks of small businesses.
"When you think about a small business, it's, by definition, much smaller," – John Gasper
"Realize that this event that's happening in Los Angeles affects many small businesses. Multiply that by the number of businesses that are changing… it scales up to be a big impact" – John Gasper
Despite the overwhelming loss, Cody Wellema holds onto his passion for handmade goods—artifacts valued for their human imperfections. His dedication to crafting each hat by hand underscores a commitment to maintaining traditional craftsmanship in an increasingly mechanized world.
"One reason or another, I chose many years ago that I really wanted to do all this by hand," – Cody Wellema
"I don't know, maybe I shot myself in the foot some time ago, but nonetheless, that's what we do." – Cody Wellema
The fire's aftermath saw Cody and his wife, Shelby, salvaging what little they could from the ruins—a few cherished Navajo rugs and a 19th-century sombrero survived the flames. However, Cody remains acutely aware of how difficult it will be to replace all that was lost.
"Even if somebody cut me a check for 200 grand tomorrow, I can't just go to Costco tomorrow and buy everything that I once had," – Cody Wellema
Derek Guy reflects on the broader philosophical implications of valuing handmade goods and their ties to human qualities.
"We value handmade goods, not because they're perfectly made, but we value them because they're humanly imperfect," – Derek Guy
"Philosophers like Voltaire believe that if we could accept and value these qualities and crafts, we could also learn something about life itself: that even as we try to strive for perfection, that we will fall but short along the way… the acceptance that there is some kind of failing is in itself a beautiful human quality that allows us to have greater appreciation for what life means." – Derek Guy
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